Only you can save public education in Florida

Florida’s education system — its public schools that voters have declared to be a top priority, its state college system that opens the gates of opportunity for thousands, its university system that’s currently ranked No. 1 in the nation — could be its most shining asset. But Gov. Ron DeSantis and his legislative acolytes keep trying to turn Florida’s classrooms into backdrops for their divisive, self-aggrandizing culture wars.

To him, we say: Stop. Just stop.

But our voice alone is not enough. These assets are too critical to Florida’s future. Too precious to waste. And they are in grave peril. In addition to the attacks on LGBTQ+ students and educators, massive new threats have emerged that are terrifying teachers, undermining academic freedom and threatening to drain the public education system of its financial lifeblood and strip universities of their credibility.

In the past weeks, the attacks have come so hard and fast there hasn’t been time to call them all out. And, to be honest, lawmakers have made it clear that editorials fall mostly on deaf ears.

They need to hear it from Floridians — people who have never contacted their lawmakers before, people whose busy lives are touched, multiple times a day, by what’s going on in the state education system.

They need to hear from you. The business owners who depend on the skilled workers that Florida schools produce. The senior citizens who have invested their life savings into retirement homes, based on the promise of safe, culturally rich communities. The quiet patriots who treasure the vision of shared opportunity that education provides.

Most of all, from the parents who send their children to schools expecting that they will be safe, well-educated and free from attempts to indoctrinate and mislead them about our shared heritage and society. Who are sick of the deceptive claims of educational misdeeds and attacks on the teachers they’ve come to know and trust.

Here are some of the clouds gathering above Florida classrooms. We’ll provide links with more information about each of them on our website, and contact information for local lawmakers. Whether you agree or disagree with our point of view, we hope you’ll take the time to share your views, with us and with the leaders who are gambling with Florida’s future.

Runaway vouchers

This may be the biggest threat, and it goes straight to the most vulnerable part of the state education system — its funding. If state lawmakers make good on their plans to offer vouchers to almost all Florida students, it could drain up to $4 billion from public-school budgets. And as the Sentinel has documented, many families might find their children stranded in schools that fall short of what they expected.

Our newsroom’s ongoing investigation of voucher schools has found that many parents are happy about the opportunities provided by the voucher system, especially those who flourish in established, high-quality private schools. But across the state, too many schools are operating campuses that are more like warehouses, with unqualified teachers and premises that don’t meet basic safety standards. Meanwhile, other voucher-accepting schools use curriculum that’s intellectually flawed, conflating religious views with scientific reality and indoctrinating students with dogma dressed up as fact.

Some of these schools prey on the most vulnerable students, promising expertise to parents of children with autism and other developmental problems but filling teaching positions with people who lack college degrees, let alone the specialized training needed to assist children who need more help to thrive. And they are free, at any time, to give these students the boot — forcing them back into public schools even further behind than they already were.

They won’t be the only ones to suffer. The dramatic loss of funding will also threaten innovative programs in public schools, such as vocational training that has many Florida students graduating high school ready to work in well-paid jobs.

If Florida leaders want to expand vouchers, they should first ensure that voucher schools meet the same basic standards of accountability and education that are applied to public schools. And they should respect the choice of parents who want their children in public school, with all the opportunities and benefits that they have come to expect. The current legislation falls far short of that mark.

Information in exile

Last year’s “Stop Woke” legislation, which singled out lessons based on this nation’s struggles with racism and oppression, was just a start. Florida’s education system is now in the crosshairs of a full-scale assault on intellectual freedom. Across the state, classroom libraries are being carted away, and the scope is so broad as to be incomprehensible.

Several wildly popular young adult titles, including John Green’s “Looking for Alaska”; ‘“Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human (A Graphic Novel)”; “Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky and “Me, Earl and the Dying Girl,” by Jesse Andrews, have been banned in Central Florida high schools for “explicit sexual content” in high schools. That’s ridiculous. These books are intended for teenagers, and there are ways for parents to keep their children from accessing them.

But the silliest (and most alarming) bans feature books intended for young readers, which are obviously singled out because they merely mention other cultures or reference race-related issues. A PEN America list of books removed from Duval County classrooms pending review included titles where famous sports figures described their experiences with racism — including at least two that focused on the life of Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in baseball at the Daytona Beach ballpark that still bears his name.

War on credibility

Even worse, DeSantis is responding to critics of his ideological war on freedom with retaliatory threats that could have significant impacts on the ability of Florida students to compete on a national level. For example, after he went to war with the College Board over an advanced-placement course in African American studies — saying it included “indoctrination” and “a political agenda” — he threatened to sever Florida students’ access to all advanced-placement courses. That’s a ridiculously overheated response, one that could deny approximately 200,000 students the ability to earn college credit in dozens of areas that have nothing to do with race or culture. No other program offers such scope or accessibility. If the Legislature lets DeSantis make good on his threats, he will be threatening the academic prospects of Florida’s best and brightest students.

Another looming threat could devastate the state’s renowned university and state college system. Earlier this year, the governor demanded information on all higher-education programs that promote “diversity, equity and inclusion.” The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which provides the official accreditation that allows Florida universities and colleges to accept federal financial aid and transfer credits to other universities, has already questioned several moves that threatened academic freedom on campuses across the state. And while DeSantis and top education officials have explored other accreditation options, there’s no time to make that switch if SACS decides to take swift action against the state for intimidating professors and paring away curriculum the governor considers too “woke.”

Attacking teachers

DeSantis’ agenda includes harsh penalties for teachers caught crossing ideological boundaries. But he also wants to undermine their ability to collectively bargain by banning the practice of deducting union dues from paychecks. And he’s targeted tenure — making it easier to fire teachers who protest the new agenda.

The result could be devastating for school districts that already struggle to find enough qualified teachers. Some districts have already reported a dramatic increase in the number of educators who say they plan to retire or change careers in the near future — or who are simply walking away now.

Up to you

Fifteen years ago, an overwhelming majority of Florida voters inscribed these words into the state constitution:

The education of children is a fundamental value of the people of the State of Florida. It is, therefore, a paramount duty of the state to make adequate provision for the education of all children residing within its borders. Adequate provision shall be made by law for a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools that allows students to obtain a high quality education and for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of institutions of higher learning and other public education programs that the needs of the people may require.

It’s hard to believe that anyone feels differently today.

So if these developments alarm you — if, for the first time, you’re worried enough to speak up — now is the time. The annual legislative session starts March 7, and these bills will be moving fast. Take the time to check them out for yourself — and then take the time to speak out, even if you’ve never done it before. Florida’s future is on the line, and your voice is critical. Don’t let it go to waste. The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. Contact us at insight@ orlandosentinel.com